Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-02-03

Who should it be?
Tom! Tom Marshall Tom will
goR cried several voices. Where Is
Tomr nRb
But Tom, after one look, drew bach,
pale and trembling f 81 s
Il couldn't he said. mo man
could live to return as"a #.s
You told Jessie you'd CO. cried
Johns cousin, Mollie Freeman,
through her sobs
Il knew she didn't mean it, said
Tom, flushing fiery red, II can't go.
l dare not -
Stand back there, cried q firm
voice, as Will Enderly stepped to the
edge of the cliff. slim going down
Not youP exclaimed Jessie, who
stood close beside. him. sYou know
you can not lys issu-aal
Stand back, sayr was Willis an
iswer, SO sternly given that Jessie
shrank back, utterly abashed. With
out even giving her glance, Will.
threw off his coat and his shoes The
others, recognizing the master spirit,
watched his motions in silence.
Bring the rope from the swing
here, quick!' he ordered. And while
strong youths flew to do his bidding,
he threw himself fiat upon the ground,
reached his head over the gorge and
shouted cheerily: .. 81
Hold on there, Johnl I'll be with
you in minute. y s r.un
Hurry! can't hold much longer
came up the faint answer. ...
Aye, aye! I'M coming shouted
viii. He sprang to his feet as the
rope was brought up, and knotting
one half the long cord firmly about
his waist had the center passed round
stout young tree, near the brink of
the cliff, and taking the loose end in
his hand, lowered himself over the
edge. Obeying his rapid orders, four
strong fellows let him down the face
of the precipice until he could reach
poor John. Then he shouted 'Holdp
to those above. -'a
There was moment of desthly
stiffness, Those who dared looked
over the edge of the cliff, watching
the scene below, where Will. was rap.
idly knottlng the rope about the help
less form of poor John. Those who
dared not, stood back with pale lips
and clasped hands, waiting breathless-
ly for the shout from the gorge.
Ready pullp came at last. .
They pulled, at the word. Slowly,
cautiously, lest the sharp rocks should
cut the frail rope, and the figure they
were lifting be dashed to pieces far,
far down the abyss, they pulled, until
at last willing hands reached down to
lift the fainting John, and he was laid
safely upon the ground, with only a
dislocated shoulder. .
But his brave rescurer yet dangled
in the chasm below, and while some
brought water to restore John to con
sciousness, the rest gave themselves
up, with bated breath, to the task of
drawing Will up. He was much
heavier than John, and if the rope
should break, what then2 Carefully,
gently, yet firmly, they drew in the
cord, hand over hand, until he could
grasp the edge of the rock. Then
with garments torn, bruised and
bleeding from the sharp faces of the
stones, he was dragged in and laid
senseless and exhausted beside John.
At this moment little figure in
blue came flying up. 1t was Jessie
Kneeling by his side, she caught his
bruised hands, and, bathing them with
her flowing tears, sobbed out piteous-
ly: H-. .rrrF
'Oh, Will. Will, speak to me. For
give me! Oh, forgive poor, foolish,
Jessie, my dear, brave Will. l.'el.s. -
There seemed to be spell in the
fearful words more potent than the
cool water with which the others had
dashed his brow. For presently Will.
opened his eyes, looked up into the
sweet anguished face bending over
him and said:
Kiss me, Jessiep
And Jessie stopped before them all
and laid her soft lips to his A.
But she did not care now. She had
found her hero, and all the love and
gratitude she could shower upon him
would hardly make amends for the
taunts she had hurled at him earlier
in the day. ara 1aalaf,.n,sr5q Fl
Tom SUNK away. There was no
chance for him now, he knew. Jessie
would never be his, and Fern Glen
must ever remain bitter memory in
his mind.
Jessie blamed herself for the nearl y
fatal occurrence. 1t was in leaning
over to look at the flower, which had
been the cause of the quarrel, that
John Freeman fell, and she thought 1t
incumbent upon her to show both
John and Will. every attention until
they were fully recovered, to which
they certainly had no objections. BY
the time he was quite well, Will. had
won from Jessie promise to take
him for life. She had found her hero
#.